All-Australians Brendan Fevola and Leon Davis lead the group of AFL players unable to find new clubs through the draft system.
Their AFL careers effectively came to an end at the December 2011 rookie draft, where no clubs would offer them a last chance. Fevola was a two-time Coleman Medallist and one of his generation’s most talented key forwards, but a history of off-field indiscretions continuously tarnished his career.
Leon Davis however, walked out on Collingwood at the end of last season after reinventing himself as a defender in 2011. He is returning to WA to play in the WAFL this season. Other players also failing selection by AFL clubs in the draft were Collingwood’s Paul Medhurst and St Kilda on-baller Andrew Lovett who was originally sacked, after he was charged with rape, but was later found not guilty.
The biggest surprise of the preseason draft was Port Adelaide just beating Richmond by one draft pick in securing the services of former Collingwood midfielder John McCarthy. Fremantle used its preseason draft pick, on former St Kilda defender Zac Dawson and West Coast picked up former Collingwood small man Brad Dick. Other AFL players who will go to new clubs through the rookie draft include former Adelaide and Carlton player Darren Pfeiffer, now at Port Adelaide. Gold Coast picked former St Kilda on-baller Andrew McQualter and Richmond recruited ex-Melbourne forward Addam Maric.
